By Danny O'Neil
Seattle Times staff reporter

RENTON — Terrell Owens is wearing a number associated with perfection.

But before he decided to wear No. 10 for the Seahawks, he asked about getting the No. 81. That belongs to Golden Tate, though, and the Seahawks' third-year receiver decided he wasn't ready to part with the number he's worn since joining the team.

"Me and 81 have been through a lot," Tate said. "From doughnut shops to inactives ... I'm going to stay loyal to 81."

But Tate did have to think about it.

"It was a tough decision," he said. "Definitely have a lot of respect for a veteran like (Owens). But I just feel like I want to play in the number 81 for the Seahawks for a long time."

As for Owens in 10?

"Eighty-one wasn't available," Owens said. "There was a couple of options. I took 10; I look good in 10, so that's going to be my number."

As for Seattle's No. 81? Well, count quarterback Matt Flynn among those impressed by Tate's play through the first two weeks of training camp.

"Golden has had a great preseason so far," Flynn said. "He's shown up a lot. I don't know how he was last year route running, but his route running is very good right now."

Flynn-teresting development

Flynn worked exclusively with the first-unit offense in practice Wednesday, and it might not be a coincidence that it was also perhaps his best day since training camp opened. He connected twice with tight end Zach Miller as the offense moved the ball against Seattle's first-string defense, and he also threw a touchdown pass to Tate, who made a grab above cornerback Brandon Browner.

Flynn will work with the first-unit offense for three straight practices leading up to Saturday's exhibition opener against Tennessee, which he'll start.

"This is kind of what I've been looking for and waiting for," Flynn said. "It's going to be good to be able to get these reps the next couple of days at practice, get in a rhythm. Even today, after the offense got going, we played well today. We got in a rhythm. We were in sync with each other. Hopefully that continues, and continues on Saturday."

Note

• The Seahawks released CB DonnyLisowski, an O'Dea High School alum, to make room for Owens on the roster. Lisowski was an undrafted rookie from Montana.